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Westchester Budget Deficit Could Leave Hundreds Looking For Work

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Westchester County is facing significant budget problems.

WCBS 880's Peter Haskell On The Story

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An $86 million deficit could mean as many as 800 layoffs.

County Executive Rob Astorino says that's not likely to happen, but he also says taxpayers are paying enough.

"And I'm not raising property taxes. That's off the table," he told WCBS 880 reporter Peter Haskell.

He also said he's not going to borrow any money.

"We are not going to lose our Triple-A credit rating," he said.

Astorino says this is not a new problem.

"We've made some very tough choices over the last several years, We've cut out $100 million in spending. We've reduced the workforce by 13 percent," he said.

He's hoping to get public workers to pay part of their health care.

Decisions need to be made by November 1.

"We're really in the fourth quarter right now. Two minute warning and no timeouts left," he said.

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